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FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear friend, The festivities in Germany and around the globe celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation have begun! These great festivities will culminate on October 31, 2017 as this was the exact date when Martin Luther hammered his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Chapel. Of course, there is some discussion about the historical accuracy of this event as he may have simply sent the 95 Theses to the Archbishop of Mainz. The theses were in reality arguments against the system of indulgences practiced by the medieval Catholic Church. This event ignited a spiritual revolution that transformed what followers of Jesus believe and the ways in which we practice our faith. There will be a lot to read and view about these events in the months ahead and it would be enriching for believers to better understand the role of Martin Luther and the impact of the Reformation. But, may I let my guard down a little bit and tell you how I really feel about Martin Luther—especially during this 500th anniversary? The truth is, Luther has always fascinated me, even before I became a believer in Jesus. Last year I visited Wittenberg, along with some staff, friends, and a theologian who serves on our German Beit Sar Shalom Board. He gave us a tour of the charming little city which was the epicenter of a spiritual earthquake that continues to shape the way millions of Christians view their faith today. I must admit I was uneasy during the tour, because I grew up in a Jewish home where Martin Luther was well known, but not for his spiritual leadership! We were raised to believe that Luther was an antisemite and that he even influenced Hitler! I know this sounds harsh, and perhaps unfair, but this is how I was raised. One of the reasons I felt I could not believe in Jesus is because I would then be linked to Luther and others of his ilk— those whom we believed hated the Jews and laid a theological foundation for the persecution of my people. Well, many years have gone by and I have studied the life of Luther and have come to love many Christians who have a high regard JUNE 2017 | THE CHOSEN PEOPLE | 2 for Luther. I have read some of Luther’s writings (he was prolific!) and especially focused on his mention of the Jewish people. I wondered how a man who was brave enough to stand up to the church leadership on issues he believed were unethical and, and faithful enough to call Christians into to a deeper commitment and understanding of the Scriptures, could also say the things he said about my people? To this day, I am still perplexed, but Luther was a very complex and perplexing man! I realize now that there were “extenuating circumstances” and that Luther needs to be viewed in the context of his culture and the time in which he lived. Yet, there really is no way we can excuse the things he said which were ultimately so harmful and destructive to the Jewish people. What is most concerning for me is that Luther, and others who had harsh and derogatory words to say about the Jewish people, is part of what still keeps my people from discovering the Jewish Messiah who loves them and died for their sins. I recognize that we are all sinners and we need to love the person and hate the sin. I also realize that Luther did a lot of good Dr. Mitch Glaser President, Chosen People Ministries DID LUTHER HATE THE JEWS? Harsh words keep Jewish people from discovering the Jewish Messiah for themselves. WITTENBERG MARKET SQUARE, WITH ANCIENT TOWN HALL, STATUE OF MARTIN LUTHER AND STADTKIRCHE


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